Re: Strange problem

["Tesla list" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>]

Original poster: "R.E.Burnett by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-uswest-dot-net>" <R.E.Burnett-at-newcastle.ac.uk>


Hi Bob,

I have not had this problem myself,  but would assume that your TC is
sending a large amount of electrical noise back into the Mains supply.

High voltage spikes can cause arcing or breakdown of components such as
MOVs in appliances connected to other circuits.  Only a small amount of
energy is required to initially breakdown such components,  but the
current follow through from the mains can easily kick out the breaker.

This sort of thing is quite nasty and can cause fires or damage to
other electrical appliances.  I would recommend that you install a good
quality RFI line filter,  and check the integrity of you RF ground.

Maybe you could post some more details about your TC setup.

							Cheers,

							-Richie Burnett,
							(Newcastle, UK)

On Fri, 12 Jan 2001, Tesla list wrote:

> Original poster: "by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-uswest-dot-net>"
<CoilerBob-at-aol-dot-com>
> 
> Hi All,
> 
> I am new to this group and was told that you might be able to help me.  I 
> have built a moderate sized Tesla coil (sparks about 24 inches long) and
have 
> run into a strange problem.  I turned on the coil and it threw a circuit 
> breaker.  The problem is that the breaker is not for the circuit that the 
> Tesla coil is on.  The coil continued to operate after the breaker
opened.  I 
> can see how the device could draw enough power to pop the breaker for the 
> circuit it is using, but can't figure out how it could have an impact on 
> another circuit.  I know that the coil can light a fluorescent bulb at a 
> distance, but I did not think that a Tesla coil could broadcast enough power 
> to overload a breaker.  I am afraid to turn the coil back on until I find
out 
> what the problem is.  Is this a common occurance?  Or is there something
very 
> strange and very wrong with my wiring?  Any help or suggestions would be 
> greatly appreciated.
> 
> Bob
> 
> 
> 
>